News

Above: Thailand’s tourism officials are planning a new campaign to attract more visitors from Myanmar.

Thailand’s tourism officials are planning a new campaign to attract more visitors from Myanmar for shopping and medical care, according to local Thai newspapers.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will appoint marketing executives in Myanmar to promote the trips, according to Ms Walailak Noypakak, TAT’s executive director for ASEAN, South Asia and the South Pacific, notes the Bangkok Post.

Economic growth was helping to boost the spending power of the 54 million Myanmar citizens, of which only 1.15 million had ever travelled abroad as tourists, said Walailak at a seminar held by the TAT.

Above: Economic growth was helping to boost the spending power of the 54 million Myanmar citizens.

The seminar heard that 142,331 tourists from Myanmar visited Thailand in the first quarter this year, an increase of almost 40 percent from the same period last year. The increase is partly due to new visa-free travel for travellers arriving by air, which was introduced last August.

TAT said it expects some 345,000 visitors from Myanmar this year, an increase of 26 percent from 2015. Each tourist is expected to spend around 43,000 Baht per trip, an increase of 5.7 percent from last year and the biggest increase from other countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Above: Myanmar people are well aware of the positive image of Thai tourism.

Next year, TAT says 370,000 Myanmar visitors (a 7.3 percent rise) will visit Thailand, each spending on average 45,946 Baht per trip – up 6.5 percent.

According to TAT, shopping would represent the largest share of spending by these tourists at 35 percent followed by accommodation at 33 percent.

“Myanmar people are well aware of the positive image of Thai tourism regarding its modernity, luxury products and perfect shopping places”, said Walailak.

She said efforts to promote Thailand as a destination for medical tourism benefitted from having representatives based in offices in Myanmar hospitals.

Above: The increase is partly due to new visa-free travel for travellers arriving by air, which was introduced last August.

Source: E Thailand

Above: Sansiri yesterday opened its first community mall, Habito, on Sukhumvit Soi 77 in Bangkok.

SET-listed property developer Sansiri Plc is interested in diversifying further into retail and hospitality in a bid to support its core residential business.

Senior executive vice-president Uthai Uthaisangsuk said the group had the capability to expand its retail business in the next three years.

Retail projects will be built only in areas big enough to house at least three residential projects, he said.

Above: Senior executive vice-president Uthai Uthaisangsuk said the group had the capability to expand its retail business in the next three years.

Sansiri yesterday opened its first community mall, Habito, on Sukhumvit Soi 77 in Bangkok to serve customers living in 5,000 units at its six residential projects in the area.

The three-storey, Japanese-style mall costing 400 million baht has 32 retail tenants in businesses such as health and beauty and restaurants. An area of 700 square metres has been set aside as a creative and design working space.

Habito will not only serve Sansiri residents and could become a community mall for non-residents who live within three kilometres, Mr Uthai said.

Sansiri’s six projects in the area, which cost about 10.5 billion baht, are Blocs 77, The Base Sukhumvit 77, The Base Parkwest, The Base Parkeast, Hasu Haus and Garden Square.

Above: Sansiri’s six projects in the area, which cost about 10.5 billion baht.

About 90% of retail space in Habito has been booked and many tenants have already opened their outlets. Sansiri expects all tenants will be providing their services by next month. Rental prices are between 750 and 1,500 baht per sq m per month.

Habito expects 5,000 visitors daily and generate income of 400 million baht a year, pushing Sansiri’s investment to reach break-even point within 12 years.

While residential development remains its core business, Sansiri might invest in another retail mall if feedback from Habito is good.

Apart from residential business, Sansiri also operates hotels in Hua-Hin and Khao Yai. It also has land plots of about three rai each in Chiang Mai and Phuket awaiting development.

Above: Apart from residential business, Sansiri also operates hotels in Hua-Hin.

Source: Bangkok Post

Transparency across Thailand’s real estate markets has continuously improved over the last decade owing to increased access and availability of market data, improved enforcement of planning and land use regulations and the maturation of domestic investors and investment platforms, according to a survey.

In the newly released biannual Global Real Estate Transparency Index 2016 by property consultancy firm JLL, Thailand ranks 38th out of 109 markets covered.

Thailand’s real estate transparency score was 2.65 in 2016, a marked improvement from 3.40 recorded in the 2006 edition of the Index. The scores in the Index range between one and five, with one representing the highest level of transparency and five being the least transparent. (continues below)

JLL’s Global Real Estate Transparency Index measures transparency by looking at factors including data availability, governance, transaction processes, and the regulatory and legal environment.

Suphin Mechuchep, managing director of JLL, said continued improvement in real estate transparency should help increase the country’s overall competitiveness.

She said higher transparency levels in other markets correlated directly to investment volumes and translated to lower risk exposure to owners, investors and occupiers when making decisions around real estate investment, sales, acquisitions and leasing.

Compared to the other six Asean real estate markets covered in this year’s edition, Thailand ranks 3rd, after Singapore and Malaysia.

Source: Bangkok Post

Golden Emperor hosted a Bangkok Property Trip to introduce a selection of prime Bangkok residential projects to investors. About 20 investors from Hong Kong attended the Bangkok property trip and visited 6 projects in various parts of the bustling metropolis.

Above: Participants were taken on a tour of 6 projects in Bangkok, with a variety of project types in different neighborhoods.

Above: Guests visited Sansiri’s projects and sales office.

Above: Everyone enjoyed local delicacies in a nice Thai restaurant.

Above: Terence Chan, Director of Golden Emperor, provided a presentation on the Bangkok property market.

Above: We provided a presentation at the end of the tour at our Bangkok office

More than 70 clients of Sansiri, Thailand’s leading property developer, attended a dinner event hosted at Crown Wine Cellars in Shouson Hill. Clients enjoyed a full course dinner with wines handpicked by Platinum Wines in the historical setting of Crown Wine Cellars, a UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Site.

Clients were treated to a night of delicate cuisine and premium wines, first-hand experience of the latest Tesla models and an exciting quiz session with complimentary nights at Baan Mai Khao and wines for winners.

Above: The Conservatory at Crown Wine Cellars

Above: Attendees checking out Tesla’s latest model

Above:  We welcomed all guests to the event

Above: Rickesh Kishnani, Chief Executive Officer of Platinum Wines, introduced the wine pairings for the dinner

Above: Kingston Lai, CEO of Asia Bankers Club (left), Uthai Uthaisangsuk, Senior Executive Vice President of Business Development and Project Development Division (Condominium) (Centre) and Cobby Leathers, Head of International Business Development of Sansiri (right)

Above: Kingston Lai, CEO of Asia Bankers Club, hosted an exciting quiz session challenging attendees’ knowledge of Thailand

Above: Kingston Lai, CEO of Asia Bankers Club, demonstrated the proper way of Wai (Thai way of greeting)